Where Maryland Ranks Among States With the Most Auto Fraud

There were over 120,000 reported auto fraud and scam cases in the U.S. in 2020. Drivers who are unfortunate to do business with a dishonest mechanic or dealership can be tricked out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Auto fraud comes in many different forms. Mechanics may overcharge or double charge for services, make unnecessary repairs, fake malfunctions, price gouge, or charge for unused parts. Car dealerships may lie about a buyer’s credit score, sell useless warranties or unnecessary products, and charge high interest rates. These practices are much more common in some states than others.

To determine the worst states for auto fraud, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list compiled by insurance marketplace Clearsurance, which based its list on data from the Federal Trade Commission. States were ranked based on the per capita number of auto-related fraud cases.

The rate of auto fraud varies widely from state to state. Most states reported between 140 and 250 cases per million residents in 2020. In three states, there were fewer than 100 cases per million, but in eight states, there were more than 300 cases of auto fraud per million residents.

In Maryland, auto fraud complaints are much more likely than in the typical state. Drivers in the state reported 313.1 incidents of auto fraud per million residents in 2020 — the sixth highest rate among all states. The median among all states is 187.9 cases per million residents. In total, Maryland residents reported 1,893 cases of auto fraud in 2020, the 14th highest figure among states.

To determine the worst states for auto fraud, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list compiled by insurance marketplace Clearsurance, which based its list on data from the Federal Trade Commission. States were ranked based on the per capita number of auto-related fraud cases.

StateTotal 2020 auto fraud cases2020 auto fraud cases per 1 millionRankAlabama820167.231Alaska107146.339Arizona1,897260.614Arkansas491162.734California6,374161.335Colorado1,510262.212Connecticut1,137318.94Delaware329337.92Florida7,2383373Georgia3,221303.48Hawaii200141.342Idaho341190.825Illinois2,042161.136Indiana1,332197.923Iowa496157.237Kansas21373.149Kentucky882197.424Louisiana680146.338Maine17212847Maryland1,893313.16Massachusetts10615.450Michigan1,427142.940Minnesota779138.143Mississippi591198.622Missouri1,940316.15Montana143133.846Nebraska350180.927Nevada1,066346.11New Hampshire404297.19New Jersey2,352264.811New Mexico477227.518New York3,392174.429North Carolina2,569244.917North Dakota105137.845Ohio3,5543047Oklahoma712179.928Oregon688163.133Pennsylvania3,338260.713Rhode Island8075.548South Carolina1,314255.216South Dakota122137.944Tennessee1,773259.615Texas4,765164.332Utah454141.641Vermont130208.319Virginia2,376278.410Washington1,305171.430West Virginia358199.821Wisconsin1,177202.120Wyoming107184.926

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